Background: Certain risk factors may predispose athletes to an increased risk of concussion.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for concussion among men's and women's college soccer athletes, and determine the likelihood of concussion based on those risk factors.

Methods: A short electronic survey was sent out to NCAA Division II universities in Ohio. Survey questions included demographics, soccer-related questions, and concussion-related questions. Participants were women's and men's soccer athletes participating in either varsity or junior varsity soccer at their respective universities.

Results: Of the concussions sustained while playing soccer, 29.4% of female participants sustaining a concussion compared to only 17.4% male participants. Concussions occurred during a competitive match in 8 of the 9 concussions compared to during a practice. There were 2.8 concussions per 100 years for strikers as well as midfielders, while no concussions occurred while playing defender. Varsity athletes showed a high incidence of concussions (33.3%) compared to JV/Reserve athletes in which there were no concussions while playing soccer (p = 0.018). Among players with a concussion history, 5 of the 12 (41.7%) sustained multiple concussions. The most common MOI was contact with another player’s body (36.8%). Of the 40 respondents, there were only 3 players who wore mouth guards, and 1 who wore headgear. There was no significant difference between protective equipment worn and a diagnosis of concussion (p = .157)

Conclusions: Being a varsity athlete, playing in a game, having a previous history of concussion, and playing as a striker or midfielder were all risk factors for concussion.